Folder and puncher



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

F- C. MEHNERT. FOLDER AND PUNGHBR.

W ITNESSES." 74 '-::1 i INVENTOH MW amr q day/W ATTORNEYS.

F. 0. MBHNERT. FQLDER AND PUNGHER.

No. 536,037. Patented Mar. 19, 1895.

[25 Y 56 I115 g 70 WITNESSES: INVENTOH Fries.

ATENT FREDERICK O. MEHNERT, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA.

FOLDER AND Pu NCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part/of Letters Patent No. 536,037, dated March. 19, 1 895.

Application filed July 18, 1894:.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, FREDERICK O. MEHNERT, of Goshen, in the county of Elkhart and State ofIndiana, have invented a new and Improved Folder and Puncher, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of devices which are used for folding blank book sections and for punching holes in them preparatory to binding; and the object of my invention is to produce a very simple machine of this kind which is adapted to simultaneously fold the sections and punch the holes therein, which does the work very rapidly, which makes the holes all alike, and which does the work better than the machines in ordinary use;

To these ends my invention consists of cer tain features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter de scribed and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of the machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine with the folding arm removed. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a broken front elevation of the machine with the folding arm' raised. Fig. 5 is asimilar view, but with the arm depressed so as to folda section of a blank or other book; and Fig. 6 is a detail cross section of the folding jaws.

The machine is provided \with a suitable table 10 which is supported on astandard 11,

- the latter resting on feet or legs 12, and projecting through the table near the back part is a shaft 13 which is normally pressed upward by springs 14: and 15, the former being coiled around the shaft and the latter being secured to the table 10 and to a book 16 projecting from a collar on the shaft, and the upward movement of the shaft is limited by a collar 17 beneath the table. The shaft is prevented from turning by a guide arm 18 which projects through a slot in the standard 11, as shown in Fig. 3. The shaft, at its lower end, has an adjustable connection by means of a screw 19 with a stirrup 20 which supports a treadle 21, this being fulcrumed on one of the Serial No. 517,920. (No model.)

7 legs 1 2 and by depressing the treadle the shaft is depressed. The movement of the shaft is limited by a hand screw 23 in the top of the keeper 22 in which the treadle moves. To the upper end of the shaft 13 is fastened the sleeve 24 which carries the folder arm 25, this projecting laterally from the shaft, and the arm is split on the under side to receive the folding blade 26 which projects beneath the shaft.

and is provided, at necessary points, with depending spurs or needles 27 which are adapted to pierce the book sections as they are folded, and thus make holes for the binding thread.

The folding blade, when depressed, enters the adjustable paper slot formed between the parallel opposed jaws 29 which are mounted in'a recess 28 in the table top 10, the angular wear plates 30 covering the tops and inner sides of the jaws and projecting outward so as to form supporting flanges which rest on the table top. The cushions 31of rubber are arranged between the wear plates and the jaws,

and the bolts 32 connect the opposite jaws and provide means by which the distance be tween the jaws may be regulated. Beneath the jaws is a supporting plate 33 which is held in keepers 34 onthe under side of the table and is supported on thumb bolts 35. This arrangement forms a sufficiently strong support for the jaws and enables them to be easily removed when desired.

Behind the paper slot is a gage bar 36 which is arranged at right angles thereto and is provided with a central bond 37 to receive the shaft 13, and the bar has also rearwardlyextending arms 38 which are slotted to receive the thumb screws 39 by which it is fastened to the table 10 and thus the bar may be adj usted backward and forward to suit leaves of different lengths. The table has also fastened to it a side gage 40 against which the side edges of the leaves to be folded are placed, and this gage is held by a screw 11 which may be fastened in either of the holes 42 of the table, as circumstances may require.

In using the machine, the operator places the leaves to be folded and punched on the table top, and pushes them back over the paper slot until their ends strike the gage bar 36 and one edge rests against the gage 40, and then the treadle is stepped on, thus bringing down the folder arm 25 and the blade 26 strik- ICO ing the leaves, forces their middle parts down into the paper slot, as shown in Fig. 5, thus making a tight smooth fold, while at the same time the spurs or needles 27 pierce the paper and make holes to receive the binding thread.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A folderand perforator comprising a table provided with a paper slot, of a noncutting folder blade provided on its lower dull edge with depending needles to perforate or puncture the paper at the fold for the binding thread, substantially as described.

2. A folder and puncher comprising a table provided in its top with parallel stationary jaws spaced apart to form the paper slot and adjustable toward and from each other to vary the width of the slot, and a depressible folder blade to enter the slot and provided on its lower non-cutting edge with projecting needles or perforating spurs to perforate the paper in the fold for the binding thread without cutting the sheets in two, substantially as shown and described.

3. Afolderand punchercomprisingaslotted table top, a support on the under side of the table at the said slot, parallel jaws resting on said support, spaced apart to form the paper slot and adjustable toward and from each other to vary the Width of said slot, and the vertically reciprocating folder blade to enter the paper slot and provided on its lower noncutting edge with needlesor perforating spurs, to perforate the paper in the fold for the binding thread, substantially as shown and described.

4. A folderand punchercomprising aslotted table top, parallel spaced jaws adjustable toward and from each other in the table slot, cushioned wear plates at the inner adjacent faces of the jaws and the folder blade adapted to enter the paper slot between the jaws, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a machine of the kind described, the combination, with the slotted table top, of the supporting plate held beneath the slot, and the adjustably connected and oppositely arranged jaws in the table slot, and angular Wear plates cushioned on the jaws so as to cover their top and inner edges and rest on the table top, substantially as described.

6. The combination with the table top and its slot; the parallel spaced jaws adjustable toward and from each other in said slot, the vertically reciprocating shaft projecting through the table, a folder blade mounted on the shaft to enter the paper slot formed between said jaws, of the gage bar secured to the table top at right angles to the jaws and adjustable toward and from the jaws; the said gage having transverse slots in its ends receiving set screws and having a bow 37 in its middle to straddle the shaft, substantially as shown and described.

FREDERICK C. MEl-INERT.

Witnesses:

MART V. STARR, FRANK D. YARIAN. 

